Original Photo by Tahir Osman | |
|
Click "View entire message"
at bottom of email to see the FULL newsletter
| |
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Pics of the week
-
This Week @ GCPC - Calendar and description of events this week @ GCPC
-
Important Announcements
- Prayer List
- Upcoming @ GCPC
- GCPC Community Garden News
-
Community Working Together - Includes info from Covenant & Ministry Partners
-
GCPC Out & About - Info about events in the wider Asheville community
- Stewardship & Sustainability
| |
Worship Preview | Sunday, September 1, 2024
In-person and Online Service
| |
*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
| Saturday, August 31 | Garden Workday
(Team 4) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Community Garden | | Sunday, September 1 | Summer Choir | 9:00 am | Sanctuary | | Sunday, September 1 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | 10:00 am | Sanctuary (also on Youtube) | | Sunday, September 1 | Pride Collective Gathering | after worship | Fellowship Hall (also on Zoom) | | Monday, September 2 | Labor Day | Church Office Closed | | Tuesday, September 3 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Meeting Rm 202 (Education Wing) | | Tuesday, September 3 | Volunteer Opportunity:
VRQ Cook Team | 4:30 or 5:30 pm | Veterans Restoration Quarters | | Tuesday, September 3 | Guatemala Comm. Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, September 3 | Worship Council Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Wed., September 4 | Garden Workday
(Team 1) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Community Garden | | Wed., September 4 | Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | *10:45 am | Indie Room (Education Wing)
(also on Zoom) | | Wed., September 4 | NO Lectionary Bible Study this week |
| | Wed., September 4 | YTL Food Distribution | 4:45 pm | Courtyard | | Wed., September 4 | Centering Prayer | 6:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Wed., September 4 | GCPC Choir | 7:15 pm | Choir Room | | Thursday, September 5 | Chair Team | 5:30 pm | Sanctuary | | Thursday, September 5 | Bell Choir Rehearsal | 6:30 pm | Choir Room | | Friday, September 6 | GCPC PALOOZA!!! | 5:30 pm @ GCPC | | |
|
MCI Meeting | Wednesday, September 3 | *10:45 AM | Indie Room
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86064900854
Meeting ID: 860 6490 0854 Passcode: 789
| |
NO Bible Study this week!
Wednesday Bible Study will resume next week, September 11.
| |
|
Centering Prayer - Decolonizing Prayer | Wednesdays | 6:00 - 6:30 PM | Sanctuary
Pray with GCPC faith filled congregants on Wednesdays at 6pm in the sanctuary. You do not need to worry about what to say. It is a simple ritual. Light the God Candle and say blessings in your silence. We turn to our inward self and repeat a phrase such as Peace of Christ. If your mind wonders, it is okay. Just return to your phrase. Be gentle with yourself. After 20-30 minutes the candle is blown out and we show or say the Peace of Christ to each other. Rest in the peace as you leave. If you can not be at GCPC, light a candle and be present to God.
Here is an article that describes the gifts of practicing centering prayer.
https://www.ctsnet.edu/the-daily-practice-of-centering-prayer/
| |
Important Announcements... | |
by Tamara Puffer, Minister of Vulnerability
| |
|
How Ableism Fuels Racism
August 2024
The title of this piece comes from Lamar Hardwicks book written in 2024. He gave a presentation on his book at the 2024 Institute for Theology and Disability. I’ve been attending the institute in person for over ten years. This conference brings together theology and disability scholars along with those with lived experience, their families and care partners (The term the institute uses is care giver, but I prefer the term used in the Alzheimer’s community – care partner), and students. When Covid shut down the country they did a zoom option only but now they always offer this. Since I have difficulty traveling to different cities every year, I now choose the zoom option.
Hardwick is the lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church in Atlanta, GA and the author of Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion. I can only pull out a few ideas of his book in this short newsletter item, so you’ll have to read the book to get his full thesis.
He began his presentation (and the book) with stories of racism by police in the news such as George Floyd and Elijah McClain. I find it timely that in the August11th, 2024 New York Times there was an article stating that pregnant women of color die at almost three times the rate of pregnant white women. “It’s not race itself that has an impact,” the article quotes Maria B. Ospina, a clinical epidemiologist and an associate professor at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. “I cannot emphasize that enough. It is the experiences of racism and segregation that have affected every single aspect of African American women’s lives.”
It's clear we have a problem with racism in our country and Hardwick brings forth a provocative idea. He doesn’t believe that racial bias in America is simply an issue of race, skin preference or a lack of diversity. He said, “Race based slavery and the enduring racial bias and discrimination it created are about disability discrimination as well. Our issues with racism are in fact issues of ableism – and American Christianity has played a significant role in influencing ableism in our present cultural context.” (p. 4 of presentation, emphasis his)
Hardwick defines ableism as “The practice of discriminating against people with disabilities based on the belief that ‘normal’ bodies are superior to those that are not.” (p. 5, presentation) He says many folks believe that disabled bodies need repair or supervision and are unable to manage the world on their own.
He believes there is a hierarchy of bodies with normal (and normal is equated with white, male, straight bodies in our culture) and ideal bodies being better than Black or disabled ones. “Black bodies are often the targets of ableist ideology, an ideology that creates images of normal and ideal bodies that neither Black nor disabled bodies can achieve.” (p.5, presentation)
He fleshes these ideas out with historical facts as well as facts about disability and race. He even quotes a book that we have studied in a group: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson.
If you have any comments or are interested in studying this book as a group, contact me at Tamara@noggin-notions.com.
| | |
|
2024 Flower Chart
There are many opportunities to sign up for flowers still!
GCPC will place the order each week. After signing up, email Anna Louise (annalouise@gcpcusa.org) your dedication for the bulletin or include it in the comment section in the sign-up.
| |
To pay:
- Please mail your $75 check, payable to GCPC (with "Flowers" in the memo line) to 789 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28804
or
| |
|
Deacon of the Week:
The deacons of Grace Covenant are available to talk and pray with you by phone or online and to coordinate care. Please reach out to our deacon of the week if you have any needs or concerns.
This week (8/25-8/31): Bob Giduz | email: Giduzr@gmail.com
Next week (9/1-9/7): Paul Tierney | email: paul@tierneyandco.net
| |
|
Prayer requests will stay on the GCPC Prayer List for one month. Please let any staff member know if you (or your loved one) would like to remain on the list for longer.
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
Maria, Esteban, and Erik Goicoechea
Grant Moss (Tiffany Kinnaird’s brother-in-law)
The Reparations Process in Asheville/Buncombe County (From PART)
Jorge Madamba (Ryan Madamba’s father); Dru Madamba (Ryan's mother); Karla Madamba (Ryan's sister)
Daniel Adams (Marta Alcala’s friend’s dad)
Terry Mizee (Cathy Froehlich's sister)
Marc Tickle (friend of Andrea Rosal)
Gary Churchfield (Susie Churchfield's nephew)
Margaret Rada
Susie Churchfield
Peggy Rada
Maurice and Bonnie Stone
Michelle Chromey and family
Stacy and Kelly Haddenham
Mary Berg
Pamela Culp
Larry Smallwood
Cliff Schlegelmilch
Tamara Puffer
JB Foster
Kay Duncan
Dawna Williams-Landis
| |
Food & Formation: Wednesday Nights at Grace Covenant
beginning Wednesday, September 11
| |
|
We are excited to return to a pre-COVID practice that our community enjoyed--our Wednesday Night Dinner! And we are adding formation opportunities to the evening. We hope you’ll connect whether you come for just the meal or stick around to attend a formation class. It’s a chance for us to strengthen our relationships and our faith.
Dinner will be available beginning at 5:15 pm in the Atrium/Fellowship Hall. The meals will be catered. There is no set charge for the meal, but we welcome donations of any size to help offset the cost for the church. Formation opportunities for all ages will begin at 6pm.
Our fall semester will run every Wednesday night beginning on September 11th through Wednesday, October 30. We will begin another “Food & Formation” series for Advent beginning on Wednesday, December 4.
| |
Our fall Wednesday night formation opportunities for all ages are: | |
|
Big Questions: An Intergenerational Exploration
This year at GCPC, what we traditionally referred to as “confirmation class” will take the form of an intergenerational conversation centered around asking some of life’s big questions together. All youth and adults are invited to bring their curiosity to our shared explorations. For youth looking to go deeper, additional programming will be a part of the experience. These pieces will draw from previous confirmation practices. This includes being paired with a mentor from the church, going on a confirmation retreat, and more!
| | | |
Theological Curiosity and Scripture
Our weekly gatherings will make room for what questions you bring to scripture. No preparation needed. Come as you are with whatever questions you have.
Facilitators: MC Ellis, Dave Cozad, and Marcia Mount Shoop
| | | |
|
Connecting Young Families
Parents of Young Children are invited to gather in the Garden Room after dinner for support, connection, conversation and occasional learning opportunities related to parenthood.
| | | |
|
4th & 5th Grade Connections Class
We will gather in the youth room for community building and conversation the first half hour. Following this we will head to Music with Ray for the last half hour.
| | | |
|
Children K-3rd Grade
We will gather in the choir room for Music with Ray for the first half hour and then enjoy some free play activities the last half hour.
| | | |
|
Childcare
On Wednesday Nights there will be childcare available for children 0-4 years of age from 6:00pm-7:15pm. We will also incorporate some music during the semester.
| | | |
On Saturday, August 24 Team 2 had 14 volunteers who harvested the veggies listed below and shared them with Western Carolina Rescue Ministries. They also did some weeding. | |
| Vegetable/Herb | Weight in lbs. | Vegetable/Herb | Weight in lbs. | | Basil | 1.5 | Hot peppers | 1 | | Beans | 6.5 | Summer squash | 6.5 | | Okra | 0.25 | Tomatoes | 12 | | Snacking peppers | 1 |
|
| | |
Community Working Together | |
|
From Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville / RSAA:
Join us on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Circa 29 in AVL at 7:00 pm for RSAA’s first fundraiser event: the Sneaker Gala! This exciting evening is dedicated to supporting our community efforts and programming. Please get your ticket today to enjoy a fun-filled night with a live auction, entertainment, dancing, and much more. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to have a great time while contributing to a very worthy cause!
| |
 | |
Join us for a powerful screening of "BAD FAITH", a documentary that exposes the rise of Christian Nationalism and its dangerous influence on American politics. Discover how these leaders have manipulated religious beliefs to turn political issues into battles between good and evil, threatening the very foundation of our democracy and our faith. Learn about the secretive Council for National Policy and the grassroots coalition of secular and interfaith leaders standing up against this unholy alliance. This event will feature the film screening followed by a discussion on how we can protect our democratic values. Don't miss this crucial conversation in Asheville!
Joining us for a post-film discussion and Q&A will be Nancy Maclean. Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains, which was updated with a new preface last year. She’s had good receptions from unions, community organizing groups, civil rights and women’s groups, pro-public education organizations, and environmentalists, among others.
Co-Sponsors:
North Carolina Council of Churches
Faith4Justice
Carolina Jews for Justice
Western North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign
| |
Food Connection Fundraiser | Wednesday, September 18 |
4:00 - 10:00 PM | Funkatorium
| |
|
Asheville/Buncombe CROP Hunger Walk registration is open
No one in this world should be hungry. That's why the Asheville/Buncombe CROP Hunger Walk is more than just a gathering of people in a place. We're part of a movement, taking steps and raising funds together to provide meals for those in our own community who need them - and supporting programs that create greater food security in communities all around the world.
Please join in the fight against hunger.
Check-in Opens: 1:00 PM
Walk Starts: 2:00 PM
| |
Safe Shelter Update
Current Requests:
- Food Service Gloves
- Paper Plates
- Paper Towels
- Coffee
- Creamer
- Coffee Cups
- Cleaning supplies
- X-Large Trash Bags
- Gently Used or New Sheets
For questions regarding donations reach out to Katlyn at Katlyn@counterflowasheville.com
Donations can be dropped off in the new bin labled "Safe Shelter" in the courtyard area outside Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.
| |
BeLoved Asheville hosts... | |
Asheville Poverty Initiative | |  |
The MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County M.A.R.C.H. newsletter | | |
Stewardship & Sustainability | |
|
SUBMIT YOUR 2024 PLEDGE!
CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to the right to submit your pledge online, all in one form. If you would like to set up recurring online gifts, please continue to the next step or contact Brett Pinkston in the Finance Office. You will receive an email confirmation of your pledge.
WAYS TO PLEDGE:
-
Online pledge card HERE
-
Email giving@gcpcusa.org
-
Call 828.254.3274 and leave a message for Brett Pinkston
-
Fill out a pew pledge card and put in the Sunday offering plate
-
Request a mailed pledge card from the office
Questions or concerns? Please contact Brett Pinkston, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at giving@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274.
| |
|
The church office is open Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 3pm.
We recommend calling ahead or emailing to set up an appointment if you are wanting to meet with a specific staff member. Please note, many staff are off or work remotely on Monday and the office is not open on Friday.
Coming to visit? We have a video doorbell to assist with security. To access the building or office, please enter through the far left glass doors off the courtyard (the one labeled Enter). Ring the doorbell to have the door unlocked. The GCPC office is to the right, down the hall, past the Sanctuary.
You can also reach our office by phone at 828.254.3274.
Marcia Mount Shoop - x. 203
Luke Harkema - x. 204
Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks - x. 205
Ray Landis - x. 207
Brett Pinkston- x. 202
Anna Louise Murchison- x. 201
Cliff Schlegelmilch- x. 206
| |
|
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
828.254.3274
www.gcpcusa.org
| | | | |
